Protecting your home for the summer
Many things can happen when leaving your home for extended periods of time. Accidents like water leaks, storm, or hurricane damage. Sometimes even burglary can be an issue. As scary as these can be, almost all of these can be avoided with preparation and care. Amazingly, some of the simplest tasks with minimal effort can have a huge impact on what happens while you are away.
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Helpful Tips
  • Clean Out Your Refridgerator and Pantry - Make sure you remove any and all food and drinks from your refridgerator and freezer. Then clean up any spills or residue from the inside and around the gasket that seals the door. Remove any food items and perishables from cabinets and the pantry. Canned items are fine to leave behind but things like ground spices need to go.
  • Turn Off the Water and Drain the Pipes - Before turning off the water, make sure you run the faucets (tubs, showers and sinks) to flush out the system. Put a dozen ice cubes and 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda into the garbage disposal and then run to clean and clear blades. Then put a capful of olive oil down all the drains to seal in the moisture. If you cannot shut off the water to the entire home because of your boiler then shut off water to all of the faucets, toilets, dishwasher, and clothes washer.
  • Set the Temperature - Set the temperature to a minimum of 55 degrees Fahrenheit and leave furnace running to prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Open All Interior Doors - This helps with circulation of air and reduction of humidity
  • Unplug Everything - Audio visual components, clock radios, appliances, microwave, lamps, coffee pot, etc. Make sure you unplug cable and telephone lines as lightning can travel through these lines as well.
  • Close All Curtains and Blinds - This will help reduce the heat inside the home
  • Bring in Outdoor Furniture - Bring in or secure anything that can become a missile in high winds. Including pool chairs, bird baths, buckets, cut wood
  • Pool/Spa - Make sure autofill function is working properly. Turn off breaker for the pool heater or spa.
  • Stop, Discontinue, and Forward - Stop newspaper deliveries, discontinue phone, internet and cable services and forward mail to your off-season home. Check with the USPS as they have some services that could help or work for you.
  • Clean Gutters and Drainage - Stop newspaper deliveries, discontinue phone, internet and cable services and forward mail to your off-season home. Check with the USPS as they have some services that could help or work for you.
  • Pest Control - Schedule pest control services or set off insect "bombs or foggers"
  • Perform Routine Maintenance - Schedule heating system, roof and chimney inspections and maintenance. Seal or re-caulk exterior windows and doors.
  • Secure Doors and Sliders - Install deadbolt locks, security type hinges and sturdy door frames that cannot be spread apart. Purchase slide locks or locking bars for sliders and french doors.
  • Have Home Regularly Checked - Have a relative, friend, or neighbor regularly check on your home and remove anything left at your door such as flyers.
For some more ideas and how to create a plan see our checklist